Repeater



Oct. 28, 1930. F B. PHILIBR'ICK 1,779,711

REPEATER Filed March '7, 1928 fnsulaiion Fig.1 Fi .2 68

V [mulaizan 0 S 3,

I'm 2/: 3/ LU s 3 33 4 i I 2 7' I 1 a.

I Fi lyal 1. n fer ference, 14cc ess [0/7 Bares INVENTOR fi'edericl'fi. P/Iilbric/r ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1930 7 unirnn s'mrnfs mamas. min-am, ornEnnriAM, mssac'ncssm, Assienon'ro THE: WELL COMPANY, orpnnwron PPERrA sMAssaoHUsnrrs, A 'oonronn'rroiyor j MASSACHUSETTS ,1

' This invention relates to automatic repeaters, ,and 'more particularlytothe non-interfering variety ofmulti-originating' circuit type of automatic repeaters used'in connec- 5 tion with municipal fire alarm telegraph systems for acting in response to the formulation .of signaling impulsesiin any one ofia plurality of originating or so+calle,d'box circuits to cause the formulation of correspondcuit, they are rendered unresponsive to the subsequent formulation ofsignaling impulses in other box circuits, which characteristic is termed non-interference.

In the course of such use, it has been found,

as pointed out in greater detail in Patent No. 810,912, dated January 30, 1906,.to Fred'- erick \V. Cole, that the'mere degree of non interference just referred: to proves inadequate when the'formulation of signalsin two .or more box circuits is initiated at orabout the same time .so that other characteristics were added to repeaters of the general type referred to such, for example, as those disclosed by said Cole patent, whereby one or another of a plurality of box circuits simultaneously actingat the initiation of their respective signals would be automatically selected, by the action of the'repeater, to [O finally control its action, and so that signal- 1 circuit thus ultimately securing exclusive control of the repeater would be formulated in all box circuits which remained inactive at the initiation of the formulation of the signal of su'ch controlling circuit. Such characteristic of these repeaters. is usuallyreferred to as perfect non-interference.

, There is, however, a problem relativeto'the inter-relationship of diverse fire alarm box ing impulses corresponding to those of the signals which isusuallycharacterized in this Application filed MarchF'Y, 1928.]S eria1 1 101 259,823.

P T NT;

art the term succession In the case of;

fire alarm boxes of modern type, (as exemplifiedby type of firealarm boxindicated in patentcto- F. -lV.- Cole, No. 1,244,587 of Oct. th, 1917) the attainmentof so-called noninterference and perfect non-interference functions, as-between boxes in any one circuit, is supplementedby such a so-called succession function,'so that the running-of the mechanism of anyfire alarmbox .is ex-' tended, beyondzthe usualtime, inv the event impulses from a previously initiated signal cuit'or because the automatic selection well understood by those skilled in this art, gave that, after the box is started, it relinquishes control of its circuit either'because signaling control of the circuit to the simultaneously initiated signalof some other box; to the end that when boxes have thus relinquished control of their circuit, they may later reassert such'control and effect the formulation of their signals in an orderly succession. i

Although certain prior art repeaters have acted, as. already referred to, so. that the signalof a box circuit then in control would be formulated inbox circuits which were inactive at. the time of the initiation of such con-' trolling signal, the type of such repeaters in .7 general use has not so acted, when the formulation of signaling impulses are initiated in one or more circuits at or about the same time,

ence and succession type, would proceed with the formulation of their respective signalsin such circuits; and, at the conclusionthereof,

would come to rest, instead of bringing into action the successive feature so as to extend operation and effect. signal formulation at a time when the repeater was free to respond thereto following .thec'completio-n of the sig nal of the box first in control.

In other words, suchprior art repeaters have failed to so govern the box circuits associated therewith as to render as effective the so-called perfect non-interference and succession features of fire alarm boxes acting to simultaneously initiate signals in diverse box circuitsas if suohboxesv were. included in the same box circuit.

I It is, therefore, an object of this invention .tolprovide an automatic repeater, .ofthe gen:

eral lcharacteii' referred to, in which the. suc-\ sion functional relationships between boxes connected in diverse box circuits.

' A further object of thisinventionxis to pro vide means suited for application toautomatic lire alarm repeaters such'as werewm common use'pre-vious to and atthe timeiofthe introduction of thelimproveinentof the Cole patent referred to, whereby such repeaters :may be-caused to effectuate both the perfect non-interference and the succession functions= of boxes connected in diverse circuits associated therewith without occ'asionfor the utilization of the invention of said iCo'le patent.

'Asti-l-lfurther object of this invention is to provide instrumentalities suited for comparatively inexpensive manufacture and capable ofbeing readily applied :to any of the types of prior art repeaters whichare now in "more or less common use. I

Other and more specific-objects and advantages will appear-in thefollowing description or wil-l'be' apparent to those skilled in this art.

In constructing this invention, means are 15 provided whereby the repeater, in responding-to activity of'any'group of box circuits, acts to render itself unresponsive 'to all other boxcircuits, such action will also coordinate the activities of all circuits remaining in controlling relationship with the repeater, to the end that the inter-relationship between the-boxes in the circuits whose activities are so coordinatedlwill be substantially that which would exist were all such boxes normally included in one circuit.

In order that thedetails of this invention may be better understood, an illustrative embodiment thereof is shown in the accompany 2' 3 'ing drawings in which Figure l is an elevation of a portion of the mechanism of arepeater embodying this invention, comprisingthe magnet of a box circuit, its armature :and the mechanism'indi- *"tfirvidually associated therewith Figs. 2 and 3 show certain of the parts of Fig. l in certain abnormalpositions; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the electrical connections. of three typical sig-' naling circuits with the significant parts of an automatic repeater embodying this invention.

l/Vith a view of facilitating the comprehension of this invientioml have illustrated sameas applied to mechanism .of a repeater such as' indicatedin' Figs. 1, '3, 4 and .5 of Patent No. 810,912, hereinbefore referred to,

' although this invention is adapted for corresponding application to other types of re peaters. It is to be observed, however, that the mechanism shown thefaccompany'ing drawings and hereinafter described in detail does not include the levers 45, and:associated parts, which are of the .essenceof the invenof is' not required in connection avith'the invention hereinafter disclosed, although such parts need not-be removed from :an existing repeater when it is rebuilt'to confonm with this invention, .as the presence off-such. parts is unlikely to prove detrimental. lVherever the accompanyingz dra-vuings illustrate an .ele-

ment which may conveniently be constructed and operated the same .as in said Patent No. 810,912, it is here given the reference number :or character .used therein and reference may be had'to that patent for further description of such-elements.

Fig. 1 includes parts constituting one of the originating mechanisms of a repeater, such as that of said Cole patent; there being several such mechanisms, one for each of a plurality of normally independent current paths, which :paths are suited for inclusion "in, respective ones'of a COITGSPOIICllIl-gjPlLlrality of originating or box circuits. Said parts include .thezelectiomagnet 1, having lthe winding-2 (see Fig.4) for inclusioirin .a

box circuit, and .an associated moving device comprising thearmatureS and the armature lever 4 to-which the .retraetile'spring 5 is '=applied.' I

It will be readily iunderstood by those skilled in this art that :the shaft .6 is associ ated with repeating mechanism and controlling mechanism therefor which is. rendered responsive to all of the originating mechanisms and which, .at times, reacts upon such -1nechanisms vas hereinafter more fully explained; being controlled by and controlling the rocking of saidshaft 'lIl'fELCGOIdfliIlGQ with usual practices in nlunicipal fire alarm re peaters of the types in general .use in. this country; Examples of such mechanism are indie ated in the drawings 1 of :the "Sole ip-at ent hereinbefore referred to and in the patent to E. J. Butler,.dated'tlanuary 4th, 1927., No. 1,613,018. In1said-1Go1e patent, the details :of such 'inechanism are more fully shown in Fig. '1, which-the corresponding shaft is tiondisclosed :by said patent,as the use theresaid shaft by the parts Sand 9. Insaid Butler patent the details of suchmechanism are. best shown in Fig. 1 in which the correspond- 'ing shaft is indicated by the number 72, and

the'connection between such shaft and other parts of such'inechanismis accomplished 'by the parts 74 and 75. Inasmuch as the details of suchwell known mechanism form no part of this invention, they are not herein shown or particularly described.

The releasing lever 7 is fixed upon said shaft-6 to rock with same around the axis thereof. .The adjusting screw 7 is carried .near the free end of thelever 7, for engagement by the armature lever'to effect the release of the'mechanism'just referred to and for the further purpose of effecting restoration of said armature lever 4 in response to rocking of said shaft 6 by such'mechanism as may be associated therewith.

Repeating mechanism and controlling mechanism, such as that just referred to as being so associated by the shaft 6 as to be con trolled by and to control the rocking of said shaft, ordinarily includes mechanism for formulating signaling impulses in the current paths of each of the originating mechanisms. Such formulating mechanism is diagrammatically indicated in Fig.4 by fragments of a cylinder 17 carried by a shaft 13 and carrying plates 18, one such plate for each of said originating mechanisms; a pair of brushes 19 being associated with each ofsuch plates 18 so that rotation of said cylinder 1'? will effect alternate closing and breaking of an electrical connection between each pair of brushes 19 by alternately bringing respective associated plates 18 into and out of engagement with such pairs of brushes.

The locking shaft 20. corresponds with the .rockshaft C of Patent No. 468,473, dated Feb. 9, 1892, to Crane 'and Cole; which, like the shaft- 20 of the Cole patent and the shaft 98 of the Butleispatent, hereinbefore referred to, ,are representative of corresponding shafts in the types of municipal fir alarm repeaters in general use, in which sucha shaft is arranged for op'eration-bymechanism which. together with that shaft parts operable thereby constitute lock cons trol mechanism involving retarded operative mechanism so associated with the repeating mechanism and controlling mechanism hereinbefore referred to as-to effect certain predetermined action of such shaft at the conmencement of each term of tie activity of any originating circuit and to effect different predetermined. action after the conclusion of each such term of activity; such lo'cl: control =mechanism usually being so arranged that such last n'amedaction will be effected only when the repeating mechanismhas remained and the inactive fora period longer than the longest interval between responses thereof to any signal. .The shaft 20 'of'Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is s arrangedto .rocliin a counter-clockwise direction to an abnormal position at the-comj mencement of such a term QfaCtlVlbff. and to rock-in a clockwise direction to its normal position after the termination of such term of i I activity; thus resembling the shaft C of the aforesaid Patent Nok l68i73a Inasmuch details of various'types of such loclrcon trolling mechanism and retarded operative mechanism, suited for use with this invention, arewell known and form no part of this invention, only such parts are'here shown? as might be considered to'fo'rm part of this invention or might facilitate a ready comprehension thereof.

Associated with each originating mechanism is an'independently movable locking member or pendant 21, which 1s in the form of a' pendant pivoted to the free end of the lever-arm 68 which, iii-turn, is lined upon siafi 2\. 'Aspring S constantly tends to swingthe free end of the pendant toward the lever hand' said pendant has the lugs or pro ections 21; 21 21, formed therein,

for'purposes which will be hereinafter more,

fully explained.

The loci-ring lever an end thereof for at times retaining the lever l in attracted position; acounterweight 30 being so'mountedon said lever 31 as to tend to swing the hook 32 out of the in the path of the hoolr38 which is formed free end of said lever "I. A locking spring 3O is carried by the lever 31 ad acent said hook 32 for en agement the projection 21 j of the pendant 21' said parts being so rel atively formed and arranged that when said pendant is in the position which it as sumes while the .moving device 3, l, is in attracted position and the shaft- 20 is in normal positionthe free endof said spring 3O? will be in the path of such'moveinent .of said projection as occurs incident to rotation of said shaft 20 from normal to abnormal position; and o thatwhen said pendant is'in the position which it assumes while said moving device is in retracted position, sov thatthehook 33 is outside of thehook 32 (to. the left of hook 32 as viewed 111 Fig. 1,) 'th.e-

freeend of said spring8O will not be-in the path of such movement A lever 31 is fixed upon the shaft 3 1 so as to act in response to counter-clockwise, rockof saidshaft to move the lever 31 in opposition to the influence of the weight 30 so as to carry the hook '32 into the path of the hook 33. SaidshaftS l corresponds with a shaft designated by a like number in the Cole patent; and with theshaft numbered of the Butler patent, hereinbeforereferred to; being representative of corresponding 01 carries the 11001 132 at of said projection for operation by or incident to the action of the repeating mechanisnr and controlling mechanism so that whenever the armature 3 of a..y originating circuit mechanism has ture 3 to its associated magnet 1.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that V the repeater shown includes means compr1s been released by its magnet l and thereby permitted its associated lever 4: to respond to its spring 5to ac to so rock'the' shaft 6 as to release the nism and controlling mechanism, and said shaft 6 has thereuponbeen rocked in the opposite c ction so to carry the lever l to a posi to be loch thereu Jo-n be so rocked as to move the hook 32 as described, and, thereupon, the shaft 6 will cease to act to hold in attracted position the levers 4i associated therewith, and such lever a will thereupon move so as to bring its hook into engagement with said book 32, in response to the pull of the spring unless such lever l is prevented from so doing by the attraction ofthe armaing locking mechanism for all originating mechanisms for governing the responsiveness of the repeating mechanism to said originat- 7 ing mechanisms whereby the initiation of activityin a plurality of such originating mechanisms will so abnormal y condition the independently movable lo member 21 of originating mechanisn mien inactive as to render the repeating mechanism unresponsive only to the circuit mechanisms then inactive;

each locking member 21 being so associated with its corresponding originating mechanism as to avoid locking action. thereof when the moving levice 3, l, of such originating mechanism is out of its normal position; the locking members 2-1 of the various originating mechanisms being connected by means of the shaft 20 and the respective arms 68 for response to lock controlling mechanism comprising the shaft 6 controlled by movement of any moving device 3, l, out of its normal position for simultaneously eflecting actuation of the locking members 21 to lock down the locking levers 31 associated with all originating mechanism then in normal position. v- A; contact lever 38 is mounted adjacent the pendant 21, the free end of said lever being disposed in a relationship to the projection 21 of said pendant functionally corresponding to the relationship of the locking spring 30 to the projection 21 carried. by said pendant, as hereinbefore more fully explain-sch to the end that, when the shaft 20 is rocked 1n counter-clockwise direction (as is the case at the commencement of each term of signaling activity of the repeater) the originating mechanisms then inactive (1. e. those whose armatures remained in attracted position associated repeating mechan which will permit the hook 33 ed by the hook 3n, the sh ft 3% will greater detail.

during the time that'tlie shaft 6 was in abnormal position) will bejprevented from thereafterq-so rocking the; shaft 6' as to nisrn responsive to rocking thereof); rcsponsive to the originating mechanism or mechanisms whosei' armature, or .armatures were abnormally positioned --incident to the a series of such'abnormal positioning's representative of the term of activity of the repeater in the course of its response to any signal; the contact levers 381 of the various ori inatin mechanisms bcing -normall or lever 38 has been abnormall )ositionedy I through theen-gagement of the pendant projection 21+therewith, as just described in The parts thus far described corres 30nd i I v I. with such as arefound in munlcipal nre alarm repeaters in ,general'use and such as are in-i cheated by the patents hereinbefore referred V to.

For reasons well understood by those skilled in this art and which'have been more fully-pointed out in the Cole and Butler patents hereinbefore referred to,'a repeater comprising-no more than such structure and inter-relation of parts as vhereinbefore described, would be subject to confused actuation (such'as would result in the formulae tion of false or lncorrect signals) 1n the event that boxes associated with two or more of the originating mechanisms thereof were so set in motion as to break their respective circuits at or abut the same time. Furthermore, such a repeater would in no wise assure the func: tioning of the so-called non-interference and succession mechanism in boxes of such respective circuits so that, not only would the action of the repeater in response to alarms originating in such circuits be so confused, one by,

the other, that the repetition thereof would be unintelligible, and would fail to cause either box to suspend the transmission of its signal and give the other the right of way; but no matter how highly developed the non-interference and succession 'mechanisms of such boxes might be for cooperation with like mechanisms of other boxes if connected in the same circuit, the interposition of the automatic repeater between their circuits would prevent such reactionfrom the signal of one boxupon themechanism of the other box as to assure that a box or boxes whose signals were not being correctly repeated would continue operation until the repeater was free to irst abnormal positioning of the shafto of;

correctly handle the signal or signals so affectec. v V

In order, therefore, to assure that the noninterference and succession functions of fire alarm boxes connected in diverse box-circuits 'associatedwith a repeater constructed as shown by the. accoimqanying drawings, will be as fully accomplished as if all such boxes were connected in one circuit, means is provided which is responsive to all originating mechanisms for coordinating the activities of simultaneously active mechanisms, which means is shown as comprising contacts operable by a member of the locking mechanism to effect functional interconnection be tween the circuits of simultaneously active originating mechanisms by effecting serial interconnection of such circuits. Y V V The general arrangement .of such contacts with relation toeacli other and tothe circuits of agroup of three originating meche anisms will-be best understood by referring to the diagrammatic representation of Fig.

4; in which itwill be noted that each ofthe originating mechanisms, as here indicated by the letters A, B and C, is equipped wlth a group of contacts compr sing the members (I, e, 7', g, h, 2', the saidcontact member v(Z be ing situated between'the contact members f and h and said contact member 6 being situated between the contact members 9 and i;

and said contact members (Z and e'being biased for movement into engagementwith said contactinembers f and g, respectively;

An insulating tie bar j connects the free ends of the contact members cl ande, apportion of said tie bar 1' being so'disposed with relation to the projection 21 formed in the pendant 21 that when the shaft 20 is moved from normal to abnormal position at a timewhen the associated moving device 3, 4:, 1S" so retracted as to-carry the 'pro ections 21 and 21 out ofthe paths-of the contact lever 38 and'the locking. spring 30 respectively,

said projections 21 will engage said bar 3' and move the contact members (Z and c, pref-V erably first into engagement with the contact members it and i, respectively,-and there-1 upon move said-"contact members '(Z' and 6' out' of engagement with-the contact members f and g, respectively. V r c The electrical COIlllGCtlOIlSshOWIl in Fig. 4 include three normally independentcur rent paths generally designated by the let ters A, Band C, representative-of three re bers g and ho'ffthe originatingme'chanism.

associated with circuit A; from the other terminal of the battery (1 conductor a connects with one terminal of the magnetwindmg 2 of the originating mechanism of circuit A. Batteries]; and 0 of circuits B and Cv are correspondingly connected with their associated boxes 6. and c and their respective originating mechanism contacts 9 and h and" magnet windings 2 throughconductoi's b 0 and b and 0 c 'and 0 respectively.

The connections between the parts of the originating mechanism of circuit A are as r follows: From the remaining terminalof the VWllMliDg 2 of magnet 1 to one of the brushes 19 and to the 7 contact 89, from the other brush it) to the'contact member a andtothe contact lever 38, and from the contactmemher a tothe-contact member 7. v The parts of: H

the originating mechanisms for circuits B and C are sim larly connected.

mechanisinof circuit A is connected through conductor 7a to contact members 7 and 2' of the or ginating mechanism of -Cl1Cu1 f/"B, the,

conductor is" correspondingly connecting the The contact member al of the originating contact member d of theoriginating mech-f anisin of ClI'CLlli? B w th the contact members v f and 2', ofthe voriginating mechanism o f circult C, and the conductor 70 correspondingly connecting contact member cl of the originating mechanism of circuit C with contact members f; and i of the originating mechanism of circuit A. Obviously, any desired number of originating mechanisms maybe correspondingly connected.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that w I the connections'just. described are such that,

under normal conditions, current paths will be efiective as follows tocircuit A, from one terminal of battery through conductor a through keybrealr contacts and magnet windings of box cflthroughconductora to contact member g, 'thence through contact member 6 to andthrough contact lever 38 and contact 39, to and through-winding 2 and conductor a to other terminal of said battery a thus efieetinq energization of the repeater magnet l of the ori inating mechanism associated with sa d circuit Av and of the non-interference magnet of the box a? therein. Corresponding current paths will be effective for circuits l3 and C.

In addition to and independentlyof the v foregoing current paths there will be a supplemental normally closed current path as follows: fromcontaet member (Z of circuit A,

through conductor 70, to contact member f of circuit B, thence to and through contactniemherd of circuit B. to and through conductor is, to and through contact members 7 and (Z of circuit C, thence throughiconductor 70 to and throughcontactmember f of circuit A tocontact member (Z of said circuit.

I It will be noted that the arrangement of ant 21 so as to bring the projection 21 above the circuit controllers comprising the contact tionship between said supplemental current path and the current paths of any two or more simultaneously active mechanisms (i. e.

originating mechanisms to which the repeating mechanism is then responsive becausethey are not locked against causing functional response of the repeating mechanism at a time when other originating mechanisms are so locked} bv rendering the current path associated with each such mechanism responslveto abnormal condition ng of the cur-- rent flow through'the current paths of other of such active mechanisms by establishing serial interconnection between such currentpaths.

assuming now that the lock controlling mechanism for these circuits has been re stored since the repeater last acted in response to a signal, the various parts will be normall conditioned as indicated b Fi s.

V 7 j o 1 and 1. v 1

If, while the repeater and its associated circuits are normally conditioned, as just described, a signal be initiated in one of the circuits, as by the operation of-the code wheel of the box a the resultant operation of the various parts will be as followsz-Upon the first interruption of circuit A, which will occur when the first tooth of the'code wheel of box a is withdrawn from the support of the keybreak contacts, the magnetof said box will be deenergized, but its armature will not drop away because it will then be held against so doingby the fallen keybreak, in accordance with the usual construction and arrangementof such lJOXGS; Such break will also cause the deenergization ofthe magnet 1 of the originating mechanism of circuit A, so that the associated moving device 3, 4, will be swung by its retractile spring 5 so as to rock the shaft 6 and, at the same time, swing the pendthe bar 7' and to carry the projections 21 and 21 out of the paths of the contact lever 38 and the locking spring 30, respectively. The counter-clockwise movement of the lock ing shaft 20, which will result from the rocking of the shaft 6 as just described,'will thereupon carry the projections 21 and 21 of the pendant 21 past the free ends of the contact lever 38 and lockingspring 30, re-

spectivel'y, and will cause the projection 21 to engage the bar and move same downwardly. During the first portion-of such movement of the bar the'contact members (Z and 6 will be brought into engagement with the contact members it and 2. respectively, and, during the latter portion of such move ment of the bar 7', said members (Z- and 0 will be moved out of, engagement with the members 1/ and g. The said parts of the originating mechanism of circuit A will now occupy the positions indicated by Fig. 2.

While the action just described is taking place in the originating mechanism of circui A,a different action will be taking place in the originating mechanisms of circuits B and C; As hereinbefore explained, the shaft 13 of the repeating mechanism is rotated wheneverthe shaft 6 has been rocked, as by the retractive movement'of a moving device 3, 4, so as to bring the contact plates 18 carried by the cylinder 17 into engagement with the brushes 19 associated with the respective Y originating -mechanisms, such engagement being timed to occur prior tothe movement of the locking shaft 20 from normal to abnormal position; hence, shunts will be established around the connection normally effective between the contact lever 38 and the contact 39 of each of the originating mechanisms of circuits'B and C, before said shaft 20 moves from normal to abnormal position.

Co'n'sidering'now the action of the locking'mechanism of said-originating mechanisms of circuits Band C,it will be-noted that as the armatures of such circuits were held in attractedposition by their respective associated magnets at the'time when the locking shaft 20 moved from normal to abnormal osition theresultantactuation of their contact levers 38 and locking springs 30 will besuch as to bring them to the positions indicated by Fig. 3, the projection 21 of the pendant 21=of each of these locking mechanisms engaging its associated contact lever 38 and moving same away from the contact 39, and the projection 21 engaging the locking spring 30- and moving the hook 32 over the hook 33 so as to render the repeater unresponsive to the moving devices of circuits B and O by preventing movement of said devices such as would effect, through the rocking of the shaft 6, functional activity of' the repeating mechanism. During the movement of said pendants 21 just described, the projections 21 thereof will pass to the right of'the bar 3' (as'viewed in the drawings) thereby leaving the contact members (Z, 0-, f, g, h, i of the originating mech-' anism ofcircuits B and C in normal condition.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that during the formulation of a signal from the box a of circuit A, under the conditions ust described, the current path of said circuit will include the conductors 7c, is and 7c" and the contact members (Z and f of the originating mechanisms of circuits Band G (the normal connection between contact her of the box-es Z2 and c are 213- and 132,; respectively, as shown,

members g and e of the originating mechanism of circuit A' being interrupted) and that, otherwise, the operation of the various parts of the repeater will correspond, sub: stantially, with that of well known types of prior art repeaters.

Assuming now that boxes b and c are so operated as to initially break circuits B and It will be evidentfron C simultaneously. the foregoing description that the originating mechanismsof circuits B and C will simultaneously act in a manner corresponding with that hereinbefore described in greater detail with reference to the originating mechanism of circuit A; so that the parts of t ie originating mechanisms of said circuits B and C will assume therelative positions shown by Fig;

2, whereupon there will be effected a serial interconnection between originating circuits B and C, due to the abnormal positioning of the contact members (Z and e of the originat-- ing mechanism of said circuits as follows: from one terminal of the battery 5 through conductor 6 box 6 durin closures of the keybreak thereof) and through conductor Z) to contact member h of the originating mechcanism of circuit B, thence to and through the associated contact member (Z, through conduc tor to and through contact member 2' of the ori inating mechanism of circuit O' thence to and through the associated contact member 6, contact lever 38 and contact 89, to and through winding 2 of the repeater-magnet 1 of circuit C, thence through con uctor a battery 0 conductor 0 boar 0 (during closures of the keybreak thereof) and condiic tor a to and through contact members h and (Z of originating mechanism of circuit (3', thence through conductor is to and through contact members f and (Z oft-he originating mechanism associated with circuit thence through conductorkto and through contact members 2 and e, contact lever 38 and contact 39 of the. originating mechanism associated withcircuit B, to other winding? of the mag net 1 of said originating mechanism, through conductor 6 to-the other terminal of the bat. tery b Assuming now. that the code signal minitracted position, leaving box 0 in complete control of circuits and Cand hence of the entire repeater. Such armature retraction will "thereafter react upon the success on mechanism of the box in awell knownmanner so that, after the circuit has been finally closed following thecompletion of the signal of the box 0?, the box b iwillproceed with the formulation of'its signal all non-interfering'and succession functions thus being as well accomplished as would have been the case had boxes 6 and c beenincludedinthe same circuitwlien they were set in motion.

While I have shown serial interconnecting means for establish ng a functionally cooperative relationship between originating mechanisms of simultaneously active circuits,

itTWlll. be apparent to those skilled in the art that corresponding results may be obtained, pursuant to the teachings of this invention, by; means other than those herein shown and described inldetail: j It should also be understood that the'spe'cific embodiment ofthis invention shown bythe'accompanying drawings and hereinbefore more specifically dfe scribed is illustrative only, for the purpose'of facilitating a comprehension of the nature and ob ects of-this invention and this invention should not be deemed as limited by these details, nor to any of them, except insofar as such limitations are'included within the terms of the-following claims, in which it is intended to claim all novelty inherent to this inventionas broadly as is permissible in View of theprior art. i l

, vVhat is claimed is 1. In a repeater: a-plurality of originating mechanisms each compr sing an electromag net and a moving device controlled thereby;

locking mechanism for all originating mechanisms comprising independently movable locking members associated with respective originating mechanisms, each locking membersub'ject to locking activation thereof only when the moving device of its associated originating mechanism is normally positioned, and lock controllingmechanism iiivolving means controlled by'movement of;

any moving device out of its normal position for'simultaneously' effecting activation of the locking members associated with alloriginating mechanisms'then in normal position in combination with independent circuit controllers for the current paths of respective originating magnets, means for abnormally positioning respective circuit controllers only when looking action of the locking member occurs when the associated moving device is iio abnormally positioned; and conductors so in-' terconnectiiig said circuit controllers as to effect such functional interconnection between the current paths of all originating magnets whose circuit controllers are abnormally p0 sitioned, that an abnormal conditioning of any one of such paths causes an abnormal conditioning in the other of'such paths the same asif such abnormal conditioning originated in such paths.

2. In repeating mechanism for use in an automatic repeater having retarded operative mechanism for lockcontrolling mecl a nism to effect restoration,.of such locking members as may at any time be abnormally positioned,but only after the lock controlling.

mechanism has remained inactive fora period .longer than the longest interval between responses thereof to any si nal: a plurality of ing mechanisms then in normal position; in

combination with circuit interconnecting mechanism comprisi'ng independent circuit controllers for the current paths of respective originat ng magnets, conductors so con-.

necting said controllers aiidsaid paths as to elfect such functiona ly interconnection be-' tween the current paths of originating magnets that, as to the paths of all themagnets whose associated circuit controllers abnor mally positioned at any given time, abnormal conditioning originating in any one of such paths will cause like ICOIlClJtlOnlDg of the other of such paths the same as if such,

abnormal conditioning originated in r such paths, and means for abnorn'ially positioning respective circuit controllers only when locking action of the associated locking member occurs when the moving device of its asso c'iated originating mechanism is abnormally positioned; and means including said locks ing mechanism for maintaining said circuit controllers in abnormal PQSllZlOll whereby functional interconnection between er the lock controlling mechanism has re mained inactive for a period longerthan the longest interval between responses thereof to any signal. I v g 3. In a repeater: a plurality of originating mechanisms each comprising an electromagnet and a moving device controlled thereby; locking mechanism for all originating inecl ianisms comprising independently movable locking members associated with respective.

originating mechanisms, each locking member subject to locking activation thereof only when the moving device of its associated originating mechanism is normally positioned, and lock controlling mechanism inany group ofcircuits will be terminated only aftmoving device out of its normal position for simultaneously effecting activation. of the locking members associated with all origiiiat ing mechanisms then in normal position; in

f combination with circuit controlling mechanism for the current paths of theorigi-nating magnets involving means responsive to ac-' tivation of the locking members to effect such functional interconnection between current paths of originating magnets whose moving devices are simultaneously out of normal position upon occurrence of such activation, that an abnormal conditioning originating in any one of such paths causes a like conditioning of the other of such paths the same as if such abnormal conditioning originated in such paths.

4. A multi-originatiii-g circuit fire alarm v repeatercomprisi-ng mechanism arranged re sponsive to activity of any circuit or circuits to be activated for abnormal conditioning of parts thereof at the commencement of any term of such activity and restoration to normal conditioning of sucl parts after the conclusion of each such term of activity,in combination with a conductor normally isolated-from all originating circuits and means operable by said mechanism to serially interconnect with said conductor anycircuit active whensaid mechanism is actuated to eft'ect abnormal conditioning of parts thereof;

5. A multi-originating circuit fire alarm repeater comprising mechanism responsive to activity of any circuit or circuitsto be activated for abnormal conditioning of parts thereof at the commencement of any term of such activity and restoration tonormal conditioning'of such parts after the conclusion of each such term of activity,in combination with means operable'by said mechanism toeiiect serial interconnection throughout each term of the activity of said mechanism between all circuits active whensaidmechanism is activated to effect abnormal conditionin of parts thereof.

6. A multi-originating circuit fire alarm repeater comprising mechanism responsive to activation of any circuit or circuits tobe activated for abnormal conditioning of parts thereof at the commencement of any term of such activity and restoration to normal conditioning of such parts after the conclusion of each such term of activity,in combination with means operable by the activation of said mechanism to effect such func-.

tional interconnection between all originating circuits then active, that abnormal conditioning originating in any one of such circuits will cause like conditioning of the other of such circuits the same as if such abnormal conditioning originated in such circuits.

7 A non-interference repeater havingindividual unit mechanisms for respective response to a plurality of normally independent current paths respectively, a current path normally closed and independent of the paths associated with respective mechanisms, and means associated with respective ones of said plurality of normally independent current paths and with said normally closed and in? dependent path, Operable responsive to functional activity of the mechanisms associated with respective ones of said normally independent current paths to effect serial interconnection thereof withsaid normally closed and independent path.

8. In a non-interference repeater for firev v alarm circuits having repeating mechanism and controlling mechanism therefor responsive to a pluralityof originating circuits,

means for governing the responsiveness of said repeating mechanism to saidoriginating circuits whereby the concurrent initiation ofactivity in a plurality of such circuits will so abnormally condition-said means as to render said mechanism unresponsive only to those circuits then inactive,-the combination of means rendered eifective by such first named means to serially interconnect, throughout 7 such abnormal conditioning of said first named means, all originating circuits to sponsive whereby abnormal conditioning originating in any one of such circuits will effect like conditioning of the other of such circuits the same as if such abnormal condi- V tioning originated in such circuits.

sponse to a plurality of normally independent current paths, in combination with means responsive to the activityof said mechanisms for effecting serial interconnection between the circuits of simultaneously active mechanisms.

12. In a non-interference repeater for fire alarm, telegraph systems of the type de- 4 scribed,meansresponsive to signaling activity thereof for automatically efiectingserial' interconnection between-originating circuits associated therewith? In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I my name, this 24th day of'February, 1928;" FREDERICK B'. PHILBRIGK'.

which said repeating mechanism is then re- 9. A non-interference repeater having in- 1 dividual unit mechanisms for respective response to a plurality of normally independent current paths, a supplemental current path and means responsive to said mechanisms for p establishing such a functionally cooperative relationship, between said suppplemental current path and the current paths of simultaneously active mechanisms, that abnormal.

conditioning originating in any one of such v paths cause like conditioning of the other of such paths the same as if such abnorwhich each such mechanism'is responsive, so

functionally responsive to abnormal conditioning of the current flow through the current paths of the other of such active mechanisms, that abnormal conditioning originating in any one of such paths will cause like conditioning of the other ofsuch paths the same as if such abnormal conditioning originated in such paths.

11. In a non-interference repeater ;-individual unit mechanisms for respective re- 

